One's Own Time: Part IT

To the dwellers of the Devil Moon, a religious procession was a new thing. The whole district had been deemed godless some time ago, save for the more demonic cults who made their homes in the basements, backrooms, and out-of-the-way buildings of the ungovernable district. The only authority that mattered was what you could defend yourself with, sell, or take from others.

For a moment the whores and thieves who stalked the dark streets and alleys adjacent to the main road watched the two-person procession in shock. The sacred chimes jingled with the man's every step as the young girl in grand vestments sang sutras of redemption loudly. The rough stone streets echoed their steps alongside the clattering of the man's sword tight in its scabbard. It took only a moment for 3 types of beings to form in response to the event.

The first group was wary of what must be suicidal exorcists, some were even able to recognize Iku the Ageless as the young girl at the head of the march. If she was marching in here as loudly as possible, it must be to attract attention or start a fight. Maybe a particular spirit is pissing her off or had a juicy bounty on it, or perhaps the healer merely wanted to die dogpiled by Xana's enforcers. Despite the allure of both of their auras, the wise move was to back off and come back only to pick up the scraps.

The second group wasn't ballsy enough to strike but was ready to sell the information off to the first being who'd pay for it. Any youkai, spirit, or demon worth their salt would want an Iku the Ageless bound up as an aura slave, and making good money off the info alone was what the bottom feeders of the Devil Moon did best. Bums that hadn't moved from their spots for 2 days rushed to the nearest gang safehouse for even the chance at selling the holy man and woman out. It didn't take long for the bums to find their payday as the third type moved into action to take their shot at glory and unimaginable wealth.

Suffice it to say, Iku should have been terrified. But if anything her aura was gleaming even brighter: all these threats, waiting for one to strike and test her guts and gaze made her feel alive. Tsukuro's white hair cast over his eyes but he felt the rush as well given he and Iku drew power from the same veins of contemplation and pain. It helped that they could both agree on what others would call a suicide mission: to find one person who joined them

in the procession as a potential successor to Iku's defining technique of the Age Curse.
It was the most obvious setup in the world, the most dangerous and brash way to find goodness in a den of sin without trying to burn the place down.
But Tsukuro followed where his charge went, and Iku saw such death-defying acts as tests of faith to be enacted on her fragile form with the duel purpose of sating the part of her which craved danger.

Moros slugged down a bottle of Sake as the beggar finished counting his money: Iku the Ageless herself, walking around the Devil Moon like she owned the place? Roughing her up a bit couldn't hurt to make sure this didn't become a regular thing. Moralizing from priests just killed business and ruined the vibe of the whole place after all. And if she doesn't get the message then she can work off her harm to Redlight in chains.

The four armed enforcer gathers a posse of red sashes and blocks the street the procession is going down. He could see the vultures waiting in the wings to take their shot at a weakened or exhausted shrine maiden. The other gangs knew better than to try and dislodge Moros from his spot and slinked away for other chances at grabbing the main prize that sang down the street.

Moros lets out a laugh as he sees a beaten and battered spirit in the middle of the procession. From her looks he could recognize her as a bum: the worn yukata, long and ratty hair, and the lack of shoes. She looked like she had already had some bottles thrown at her alongside the two priests who seemed to barely notice the bleeding as they reached the roadblock. Moros approaches with a swagger expected of him and flashes a toothy, intimidating smile toward the childishly sized Shrine maiden.
"Whatever drivel your selling to our customers, this is your last chance to stop before I start asking for compensation"

Iku's eyes burn into his as he feels something moving around him, another set of eyes doing well to be hidden.
"I offer even a sinner like you a chance for redemption should you join us. You have crossed into the territory of a Karmic Outlaw: you-"

Tsukuro rushes forward and grabs both of the hands Moros was going to use on Iku in a flash of speed: "Not just a useless fuckin' priest then... Why the hell not? Watch me kick your guard dog's ass and then we can talk compensation" Moros says toward Iku.

The girl stands in front of the homeless spirit: "Tsukuro, play nice. He can still improve his Karma"

Tsukuro nods: "As you wish, Iku-Kannushi"

He keeps a death grip on Moro's wrists while the two take a moment to size up the other. Both could tell the other fighting chops, but Moros had more tricks than his religious opponent. As he empowers his flesh to start crushing Tsukuro's wrist he feels the man pull back and aim a quick elbow jab toward his stomach. It lands quickly is quickly by a flash of Tsukuro's knuckles in Moros's face. It wasn't enough pain to phase the oni, but he was still fucking with him to make this a good show for the underlings.

Despite a weaker body and slower reaction speed, Tsukuro takes his punches and gets all the stronger for it, using his sheathed sword on a bludgeon when he starts wincing and losing his teeth when a haymaker from Moros lands right on his cheek. He recovers and lands a powerful jab to Moros's throat with the long end of his sword’s scabbard, almost landing a strike to the knees meant to make the Redlight enforcer knee. The blow gets and the sword’s wielder is thrown briefly to the ground before he staggers up, both fighters auras flaring.

In a fight between two masochists, it's only a matter of time before somebody stops holding back. Tsukuro sidesteps a flurry of punches meant to knock send him onto the ground with broken ribs and shoulders, throwing his scabbard at Moros before he brings his blade into an overhead swing. Moros's more academic side has a moment of recognition of what the blade can do now that it's so close. It gave off the energy of utter nothingness as if it could slice through even the soul with a user talented enough. Two of his hands held the thrown scabbard and as he tried to re-angle the other two to land some kind of blow in the milliseconds he had to batter the swordsman out of stance and into the trash.

It is Iku's geist whose eyes slow down Tsukuro, and it is the Ageless one's own eyes that slow down Moros even through his enhancement. Like his muscles were growing weaker by the second. She didn't even bother to mask her whispering of her ancient chant or the clear pain it caused her to any of this. Tsukuro breathes heavily, trying to calm down as his recently aged muscles return to the sword to a defensive position. Moros didn't need to see his eyes through his hair to know the adrenaline was still pumping and that might be all that was keeping him up.

"Both of you: stop" Iku says as she closes her eyes and violently coughs up blood into the elbow of her white robe.
"I know you can recover what I did to you age, Moros" Iku says with narrowed eyes.
"And I will be able to easily fix Tsukuro"
"Sadly, I do not carry money with me often. If you truly want your recompense for us giving your addicts hope of escaping the cycle, then see me in the Canals. The vultures won't be satisfied with just me, after all"

"Iku-Kannushi I..." Tsukuro says before gritting his teeth in pain.

"I understand why you drew your blade, but he can turn this life he's been given around. We are exorcists, not vigilantes carrying on a parody of justice"
"We were told the nearest exit to the district was down this path. You've made it abundantly clear what you stand for and rest assured your message is received"

Moros withdraws his arms, still buzzed and working off of his battle high: "Don't think I didn't see the smile on your face at forcing that technique out: you wanted to break a few bones and lose some blood tonight and chose a damn inconvenient way to do it. Don't expect a fucking duel next time, we'll see how your eyes hold off 5 of my Red Sashes while your watchdog gets his ass kicked until he's begging for mercy.

"Just go back the way you came in: and make sure to give the bums a good show on your way out" Moros says as he pushes Tsukuro back to Iku gets back in line with his men and tries to put the near end of his un-life out of his mind. Best the common goons didn't know the goody-two-shoes Shrine Maiden's too good for a bribe might have a man in their ranks capable of breaking a soul apart.

As the procession double-backed out of the Devil Moon and back to the meeting spot, many bystanders stared at the beaten and bloodied priest who still managed to repeat sutras. Even Iku with comparitively light injuries and Akane, the spirit that decided to follow them inspired a sick degree of novelty in the people of Devil Moon they passed. Walking displays of gore bleeding onto the street with every step. Even then, the smiles on the priest and priestesses' faces told the common folk a simple fact:

The Ageless One was not destined to die this night: perhaps a god was watching over her all along.